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"I wasn't really thinking about it, other than the fan just above our dugout who kept yelling at me about it," Bailey said. "That was nice of him."

Bailey made a strong bid for his third career no-hitter, shutting down the Giants until Buster Posey's two-out single in the seventh inning and pitching Cincinnati to a 4-0 victory Sunday.

Bailey has pitched no-hitters in each of the past two seasons, including one against the Giants at home last July 2. He came close to pitching the latest gem at AT&T Park, the scene of Tim Lincecum's no-hitter Wednesday against the Padres.

"I had pretty good stuff, got a lot of early outs and we scored enough runs," Bailey said. "It was our lucky day, I guess."

Bailey finished with a three-hitter as the Reds completed their first four-game sweep in San Francisco since 1972 at Candlestick Park.

Billy Hamilton, Brandon Phillips, Brayan Pena and Skip Schumaker drove in runs as the Reds won their season-best fifth straight and eighth in nine overall.

The Giants were swept in a four-game series for the first time in their ballpark that opened in 2000. San Francisco has lost 15 of 19 while watching its lead dwindle in the NL West.

"We got them at the right time," Schumaker said. "It's still a playoff team, in my opinion. They are too good of a team. I'm just happy to get out of here while they were struggling a little bit."

Bailey walked Gregor Blanco leading off the fourth but later caught him taking off early for third base and threw him out.

That was all the Giants got until Posey singled cleanly to right-centerfield. Pablo Sandoval's bloop single moved Posey to third, but Bailey struck out Michael Morse looking to end the inning.

"We ran into four starters as dominant as four starters I've ever seen before," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "They caught everything we hit. They are as hot as any team, and as cold as we are, it's what we have to deal with."

Bailey was trying to become the sixth pitcher with at least three career no-hitters.

"He pitched efficiently and we played great defense," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "When the outs are coming so early in the count, he has a chance."